Results: Week 10

1) Week 10 is gone and done. What a night it was! it seems almost every game was decided by one goal, and we didn't fair too well in those, especially the ones that went into the extra session/SO. Of course that's all part of the game so we accept all results. Also just after we lad the decision of the Flyers to replace Stevens with Laviolette Philly lays a serious egg at home against a caps team without its best player (Ovechkin). we don't see that continuing.

2) As for the actual carnage, we went an abysmal 5-9 to bring our 10 week total to a still respectable 80-52, or a .6.6 winning %. It wasn't al bad as we extended our winning ways with our Lock of The Week. Bringing that stat to 8-2 on the season. We will be back at it for week 11 next Saturday when 12 games will be played.
As always keep it here for all the latest!

Stevens Canned! Laviolette Hired! Good Move!

1) In what amounted to a late night lynching after everyone had gone to sleep Philadelphia Flyers coach John Stevens was fired late yesterday evening. The team didn't even hold its press conference until 8:00 pm last night!! Yes, its not a huge surprise to most people, its just the timing that we at Fauxrumors have issue with. The Flyers could/should have made this announcement either MUCH earlier in the day. Why wait? The only possible reason was the Hurricanes dragging their feet in giving permission?

2) As for the decision, we're actually in agreement with Paul Holmgren/the Flyer management. Stevens clearly was not the right coach for this team. Yes, as many have reported/said Stevens is one of the brightest young hockey minds in the game, and we would be shocked if he's not back coaching another NHL team before next season commences, but after an initial elevation of the team from the dregs 3 seasons ago, the Flyers never propelled themselves to that 'next level. Yes, and we would agree with those who say the biggest problem the Flyers have (and have had forever since Bernie parent retired) is between the pipes, but if anyone has seen the Flyers play this season there clearly was something lacking. A fire if you will. This team SHOULD be among the elite in the East, if not the NHL, not fighting for their lives for a 8th spot.

3) As for the decision to replace Stevens with Peter Laviolette, we again are in firm agreement with the choice. In fact we'd venture to say this is as important to their potential success this season as the Pronger addition in the off season. In 'Lavy' the Flyers have a coach that has won. A guy who is every bit as emotional as his team SHOULD be. We think this is a match that is a perfect fit and we'd be shocked if the Flyers don't proceed to over take the rest of the conference and be fighting the Pittsburghs and Capitals for supremacy in the East. Yes, Ray Emory/goaltending remains a problem/issue, and as we projected in our preseason predictions would be their eventual downfall in the post season, it should NOT prevent this team from winning at least 75% of their regular season games from here to April.

Week 10 Picks!

1) Its already week 10 of the 2009-2010 NHL season. There are 14 games on the line this afternoon/evening. We bring our 9 week total of 75-43 on the season, or a .636 winning %.



Vancouver at Carolina: Canucks

Edmonton at Dallas: Stars

St. Louis at Los Angeles: Kings

Toronto at Boston: Bruins (Lock of The Week)

NY Rangers at Buffalo: Sabres

Detroit at New Jersey: Red Wings

Washington at Philadelphia: Flyers

Atlanta at Florida: Thrashers

Colorado at Columbus: Avalanche

Chicago at Pittsburgh: Penguins

NY Islanders at Tampa Bay: Islanders

Minnesota at Nashville: Predators

Calgary at San Jose: Flames

Ottawa at Phoenix: Coyotes

Not A Mis-Print?

1) As we perused the NHL standings we were struck with several items with what we saw in the Eastern Conference. One, the top 8, after almost 30% of the NHL season has been completed, consisted of 3 NE division teams. Not a huge shocker (we saw 2) really, but most didn't think that the Senators would be one of them. As bad as things have been in Beantown they have hung in there and as of this point have a playoff position. Buffalo is not a shock as we at Fauxrumors believed that a healthy Ryan Miller would put them back into contention, and thus far his heroics have been a huge factor in their early success.

2) The thing about the top 8 that struck us the most was the fact that there are 3 SE Division teams there and only two Atlantic division team currently in playoff position. We felt before the season that the Atlantic was the best division in the East. Regular readers may recall how we lambasted the SE division in late October, http://newfaux.blogspot.com/2009/10/south-least-division.html No shocker that the Washington Capitals are in the top 8, but surprisingly, the team we believed had the best chance of joining them the Carolina Hurricanes are the conferences worst team!

3) Meanwhile the Lightning and Thrashers are having very nice starts. Look out DC, the Thrashers are only 7 points behind you with 3 games in hand! So who else is not getting it done? Well, the Flyers and Rangers are two teams we felt pretty confident would be playoff teams. The Flyers a Cup contender in our pre season predictions have played very poorly the past few weeks placing them on the outside of the top 8. The Blue Shirts, after a nice start have folded their tent and looked like a bottom 5 team the past 3 weeks, going a horrendous 3-7 in their last 10 games!

4) Yes, we can already hear some of you saying, 'its early Faux'. Of course, but its not the first week of the season anymore. These trends are significant now. We feel that teams like the Lightning and Thrashers, barring serious injury woes, will hang in there and make it a fight to the end for a playoff spot. Something both of those beleaguered markets desperately need! We also can't see the Flyers staying where they are. At some point they will put together a nice streak and be right back in the top of the Atlantic race. Additionally, really only two teams can be counted out as of now. The aforementioned Hurricanes who appear lost, and the Maple Leafs. Everyone else is within a good weekend of games of getting back into the top 8. As it has been the last few seasons it will likely go down to the final day before we know who will be there and who will need to book a mid April tee time.

'Around The Horn'- First Edition

1) We at Fauxrumors had been discussing for a while the possibility of doing a semi-regular discussion/response to the Sunday hockey columnists. As many might already know the Sunday paper is where most of the better known hockey columnists do a regular column discussing various aspects of their home teams and the NHL in general. We read these folks for both insight and for humor (unintended sometimes). We sometimes agree and sometimes very much disagree with their respective takes, but at the very least many times its good fodder for blog discussion. Some of the aforementioned writers include but are NOT limited to:

• Larry Brooks- NY Post



• Kevin Dupont - Boston Globe



• Bruce Garrioch - Ottawa Sun



• Dave Molinari - Pittsburgh Post gazette



• Steve Simmons- Toronto Sun



• James Mirtle- Toronto Globe



• Adrian Dater- Denver Post

2) The story this past week that got our interest was Larry Brooks' story concerning the shoot out. Or as we like to call the 'demonstration' that takes place AFTER the real game. We have been on record from the start against the silly way of determining the outcome of games. WE felt back when it was first instituted (after the last Bettman lockout) that based upon seeing the shoot out in minor league games that it was an anti climatic exercise after a good hockey game. Brooks apparently has not only come to that conclusion but gone a step further in saying that the silly way of deciding games is ruining the NHL. He mentions stats that show that the number of games going to the extra- extra session has been steadily climbing. Its risen to what it is now: An astounding 18% of ALL games are decided by this method!! Not hockey, but by a skills competition that has much to do with actual hockey as a home run contest does with a baseball game

3) It seems coaches (trying to keep the regulation losses to a minimum) have understandably instituted a conservative approach that has resulted in an amazing 27% of ALL games going to OT (where most end up in the SO). As most, including us, surmised years ago, coaches will adapt to the rules and in an attempt to keep their jobs try what means they can employ to minimize the damage, thus defensive first schemes that result in fewer and fewer games decided in 60 minutes. Not only are teams playing for regulation draws to get the guaranteed point, they do it more often late in the season, when playoff positions are on the line! So get ready, its gonna get worse! So in essence, when games are supposed to get more competitive, they actually get less competitive. Teams naturally do what the system encourages them to do: play for the guaranteed point, then take their chances during the brief overtime period that follows the real game.

4) So, what to do now? We can't see the NHL changing the shoot out. Its here to stay folks. In fact as we wrote 2 1/2 years ago don't be shocked to see it start to seep into consideration in the post season! http://newfaux.blogspot.com/2007/04/ot-nonsense.html In our opinion the number one flaw is that a victory in regulation is considered the same as a victory in overtime or shootout. That needs to change. Incentive to win in 60 minutes needs to be reclaimed. We'd prefer a 2 point system. You win in regulation you get 2, you win in the OT/SO, you get 1. You lose, you get ZERO regardless. That way no incentive to play for a 'tie' , and no gain for losing. Of course critics abound for that way of thinking so we'd be OK (although not enamoured) with the 3 point system. In that a regulation win would be elevated to a 3 point gain, and a OT/SO win 2 points. The loser point would remain unfortunately. At least that method incentivizes a team to win in regulation and the loser of an OT game comes away with something. One thing is clear, the current system is broken!

Week 9- Results

1) For the third consecutive week, we at Fauxrumors managed to go a very solid, if not impressive, 9-4 with our weekly picks. This brings our 9 week total to 75-43 on the season, or a .636 winning %. We also got our Lock of The Week correct to bring that stat to 7-2 on the year.

2) We will be back at the picks next Saturday when a whopping 14 games will be played. Also we are preparing a post about new Jersey. We should have it out later this week. As always keep it here for all the latest!

Weekly Picks- 9 Who Would Rick Pick?

1) Its week 9. So we figured we'd have (in spirit only) Rick Tochett make the picks for this week. So far this season we at fauxrumors are an impressive 66-39 for a .629 winning %.

NY Islanders at New Jersey: Devils

Ottawa at Boston: Bruins

Carolina at Buffalo: Sabres (Lock of The Week)

Washington at Montreal: Capitals

Philadelphia at Atlanta: Flyers

Calgary at Columbus: Blue Jackets

NY Rangers at Pittsburgh: Penguins

Detroit at St. Louis: Blues

Florida at Nashville: Predators

Tampa Bay at Dallas: Stars

Minnesota at Colorado: Avalanche

Edmonton at Vancouver: Canucks

Chicago at Los Angeles: Kings